The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) in Mpumalanga fully supports the picket action led by the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) in the Gert Sibande Region, scheduled for 20 March, from 12pm to 1pm, across various municipalities and government institutions.
This picket forms part of a broader struggle to defend the rights and dignity of security workers, who continue to face intolerable working conditions and blatant exploitation by employers.
COSATU is deeply concerned about the ongoing challenges confronting security workers in the region, including:
- Persistent late payment of wages, leaving workers unable to meet basic needs
- Failure by employers to resolve pay queries and address discrepancies
- Lack of salary increases and bonuses, despite rising cost of living
- Non-payment of leave benefits owed to workers
- Rampant bullying and intimidation in the workplace
- Failure to register workers for UIF, depriving them of social protection
- Absence of provident fund contributions, undermining workers’ long-term financial security
These conditions are unacceptable and constitute a direct violation of workers’ rights and labour laws. Security workers, who play a critical role in safeguarding public and private institutions, deserve to be treated with dignity, fairness, and respect.
COSATU reiterates its call for permanent and decent work for all. The continued reliance on insecure, outsourced, and poorly regulated employment in the security sector must come to an end. Workers must be afforded stable employment, fair wages, and full access to benefits as guaranteed by law.
We call on all employers, municipalities, and government institutions in the Gert Sibande Region to urgently engage with workers and their unions to address these grievances. Failure to do so will only deepen the crisis and intensify worker resistance.
COSATU further calls on all its Affiliates, progressive formations, and community members to support and join the picket action in solidarity with security workers.
An injury to one is an injury to all.
Issued COSATU Mpumalanga
Thabo Mokoena (Provincial Secretary)
Mobile: 073 750 2041